While visiting the artists, attendees can enjoy food, meet with community non-profit participants and go by the children’s booth offering projects children can make on the spot.

One new feature this year is “geode” slicing. Visitors can purchase a closed geode and have it cut before their eyes to reveal a beautiful crystalline center. Chris Carroll, woodworker, will also demonstrate a portable sawmill set up in the parking lot so viewers can see how boards are made from tree trunks after the bark has been removed.

Besides the events outside the building, Tryon Arts and Crafts School is open for tours and demonstrations of the various crafts classes available. In the main gallery of the school will be a silent auction display where many pieces of art, craft and utilitarian pieces will be up for bid. Special items include a weekend stay at the Pinecrest Inn and gift certificates to many local businesses.

Local artists, such as Doug Dacey and Claude Graves have donated special pottery pieces to the auction. The auction bidding will begin a week before the Fall Festival on Oct. 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will conclude at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13 when the winners will be posted.

The dates of the festival are Saturday, Oct. 12, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Tryon Arts and Crafts School is a non-profit crafts organization located at 373 Harmon Field Road in Tryon.

– article submitted by Christine Mariotti